The Carotid and Vertebral Arteries

Atherosclerotic disease in the supra-aortic circulation area is a common cause of minor neurological deficits and ischemic brain alteratons including stroke. After cancer, cardiovascular disease represents the most important cost factor in heath care in the western world, and the number of cerebrovascular disorders is growing steadily (Kido and Moran 1994; Masaryk and Obuchowski 1993). Besides therapy in acute ischemia, medical prophylaxis and surgery to prevent further ischemic events must be closely evaluated. For correct treatment and prevention, exact staging of the disease is mandatory. With the increasing importance of therapy in carotid atherosclerosis, the requirements for diagnostic evaluation and the number of patients are also growing. Compared with distal cerebral arteries, the carotids are much more commonly affected by atherosclerosis — and their impact on health care is far more important due to their surgical approachability.